Doreena is from Dun Laoghaire, Co.
Dublin, Ireland and has been writing
from the age of twelve. She moved
to Cork in 1980 and spent a lot of
time developing her love of poetry,
art and craftwork. Her writing is
like a diary, reflecting personal
events and marking life’s ever-
changing emotional landscape.
 When Doreena moved to Carlow she joined the “Carlow Writers’
Group”, where she contributed to their annual poetry collections.
Including “Under the Beams” in 1993, “The River Rains” in 1994,
and “The Willow Harp” in 1995.
 Several years ago, Doreena became involved in a play writing
initiative sponsored by the Carlow Arts Office under the tutorage
of artist-in-residence Bryan Delaney. She was one of five people
chosen to showcase her work in VISUAL using professional actors
under the direction of Tom Creed. She has written several short
plays.
 In 2011 as Chairman of “Carlow Emerging Writers” Doreena was
instrumental in organizing a short series of writing workshops by
writers Jean O’Brien, Enda Wyley and Mary O’Donnell aimed at
encouraging local writers in Carlow. Following on from which she
organized a series of writing workshops hosted by Ferdia Mac
Anna.
 Doreena was chosen to be part of the initial team of writers to take
part in a project with Kildare County Council to write the
screenplay for a web TV mini series based around the horse racing
industry in Kildare.
 Doreena went on to join the Carlow Writers’ Co-op in 2012 and
has been an active member ever since and is a contributor to their
anthology. This is a strong group of local writers who have won
many awards and have had numerous publishing successes.
 In 2016, Doreena along with three other members, travelled to
Chicago for a 10-day trip to perform their work at colleges and art
centres.
 She is involved in regular poetry readings, collaborating in many
writing projects at VISUAL and the local library in Carlow.
 Doreena has been short-listed for the Fish Poetry Prize and she was
long listed in their “Memoir” category.
 In 2019 she was highly commended for her video poem “Gut
Feelings” in the Doolin Poetry Video Prize.
 Doreena is currently working on her first collection of poems.